Didn't interact with him very often on ILM, but I always liked his approach. Most of my interaction, if you can call it that, was from reading his Singles Jukebox blurbs and various comments he'd toss up on blogs. His insight and joy will certainly be missed.

didn't know him personally but read his contributions here and on TSJ - always one of my favorite reviews. heard the news while on a bus that was delayed on the side of the road, felt totally gutted and helpless - had no idea. RIP.

He offered me a place to stay whenever I was traveling around London. Never had the opportunity to take advantage of his hospitality, but it was always a huge relief to know that there would be some place I could go should everything else fall through. I wish I had gotten to know him better. RIP Martin.

I seem to remember Martin and I talking over some of the general points that would surface in the article during my visit -- the article wasn't written then, of course, but the ideas were obviously very close to his heart, and not just limited to questions of music.

It occurred to me on the way home that I'd brought him a small gift of thanks when I visited in 2003, some Cholula hot sauce, in that I had no idea if it was common stuff in the UK. Turns out he wasn't one for spice in his food, if I remember rightly! But he graciously thanked me, and I wonder what happened to the bottle -- hopefully someone put it to good use.

Momus has posted a tribute. Turns out a recent song of his was inspired by Martin:

I've kind of moved past shock and into anger as I've been reading back through his livejournal entries. Anger at anyone/anything (whatever higher power you want to believe in) that could take someone away so quickly. I hadn't realized just how recent the diagnosis was. FUCK OFF cancer.

A giant among ilxors. I have a pile of books I read because he recommended them here and another pile that I'm still intending to read for the same reason. He was missed on the recent speculative fiction poll. And yes, that freakytrigger soul music article was terrific. RIP, Martin.

The speed of it was a dreadful thing - I went round to his with some friends to see WWE's Money in the Bank last Monday, and he was in good form. All relative of course, he was in some pain and astonishingly skinny, but it was a normal social interaction, him greeting us at the door and showing us out afterwards. He was also very happy that, thanks to a stent recently fitted, he'd been able, while out seeing friends the day before, eat a cheeseburger. And of course, he was endlessly knowledgeable about the wrestling, and generous with his knowledge.

Having known of and read Martin as an editor and writer on comics for almost twenty years, it was fascinating to get to know so much more of him when I found my way to ILX. It's been a delight to read his ever-open, always inquisitive perspectives on the Jukebox since he left ILX. And I was very happy, and am even more so now, to have recognised him leaving the 10th birthday FAP as I was arriving, and to have gotten to chat with him for a few minutes before he headed off (and tell him how he was missed on ILC, much though he demurred!).

It's really, really great to know that he must have had a strong idea how valued he was by friends and peers, and that there were so many with him right at the end. Goodbye, Mr Skidmore.

Just a couple of memories, out of many, that I recall – neither of them deep, as such, but both oddly reassuring:

Martin, Mark S, Suzy and myself wandering around Brick Lane one Sunday morning back in 2003 – it was the time Anthony Easton came over – just hanging out, looking in boutiques and knick-knack stalls or through racks of overpriced used vinyl, feeling good about the world.

2005, Liz’s funeral: the Grand Old Men of ILx UK (Mark, Tom, Martin and myself) standing at the back of the crowd; Suzy later joking about double vision (since Martin and I did not look dissimilar, ditto Tom and Mark). Despite the sadness of the occasion that was a good day.

I can’t say I was a bosom buddy. I’d see him intermittently at an FAP or at Club Popular and he was always welcoming and ready for a chat. He was a regular, reliable, warm presence. He recognised my problems with random/casual chatter and was always understanding and accommodating. I was looking forward to seeing him at Mark’s FAP a couple of months back – it had been a long time - but sadly he was too unwell to attend. I should have gone out and seen him, I should have made the effort, but then my mother was taken seriously ill, I had to go up to Scotland, and apart from that there were (still are) numerous affairs to sort out apropos my book (publication, publicity); not life or death but very time/energy-consuming. So time and circumstance conspired against me saying goodbye to him properly. Stupidly I thought he was always going to be there.

The Facebook/LJ stuff: what can I say, immense bravery – and I know from personal experience (at one remove) how painful, infuriating and soul-destroying the fight against cancer can be, the everyday nuisances, the sudden alarm calls, the random shocks, the tedious despair. I hope I never end up in that situation but would like to think that if I did I’d summon up as much courage – and, even more courageously, that ineffable good nature of his – as Martin did.

Unlike me he never succumbed to freak-outs, prima donna hysterics or grandstanding, and when I did he was always there with a wise and quieting word. Even in my worst moments on ILx there were always a few people who could tell me to shut up or stop it and I’d listen. Martin had that air of friendly authority about him. He never shut you out.

Martin wasn’t perfect; who is? He had his demons the same as everyone else but he was better at controlling them than most. I’d always thought of him as the kind of person “we” should all strive to be; designer of his own world and perfectly (or at least relatively) happy within it. Hopefully he’ll still be happy in the world to which he is now heading. He knew most things about everything and used his wisdom as a guiding light rather than a bullying truncheon. Give Skidmore some, over and out.

RIP. I only met him once, but liked him; and his name on a post here, at Freaky Trigger and The Singles Jukebox would make me pay attention. My condolences to all those who knew him properly; I'm sorry for your loss.

Marcello's post chimes with what I was thinking last night - Martin was always open and frank about his problems with depression (in general, he was probably the most open and frank person I have ever met) and I can't remember a single incident of him taking it out on anyone else.

The speed of it was a dreadful thing - I went round to his with some friends to see WWE's Money in the Bank last Monday, and he was in good form. All relative of course, he was in some pain and astonishingly skinny, but it was a normal social interaction, him greeting us at the door and showing us out afterwards. He was also very happy that, thanks to a stent recently fitted, he'd been able, while out seeing friends the day before, eat a cheeseburger. And of course, he was endlessly knowledgeable about the wrestling, and generous with his knowledge.

That show unexpectedly turned out to be one of the most inspirationally brilliant of recent years, I'm glad he was able to catch it as it seemed like the kind of thing a longtime fan would have been waiting years to see

OK so I was just looking at Martin's funk thread, which I love, when I noticed someone saying RIP Martin... and this... so sad. I can't say that I really knew Martin that well but, whenever I met him, he was always very friendly to me and always made an effort to talk to me and I appreciated that a lot and it's a shame that we sort of drifted in different directions but... well I don't know what to say... see you next time around, big man

That show unexpectedly turned out to be one of the most inspirationally brilliant of recent years, I'm glad he was able to catch it as it seemed like the kind of thing a longtime fan would have been waiting years to see.

Yeah, one of the others there was Carsmile Meg, who Martin had converted to WWE by showing her matches of the inked-up indie boy :) It was great and amazing to see a show where CM Punk just won and that's it. Like in comic books, actual endings rarely happen.

His openness and warmth were such an encouraging example on this board, and in the other online haunts where I'd see him from time to time. The world is poorer without him in it. Giving thanks today for your life in this world, Martin Skidmore.

Oh no! I remember it being mentioned he was sick. But I thought he was better. I had him on my twitter list and followed his tweets of course. I fondly remember meeting him (and, of course, Marcello) years ago. Ten years? Seems more. Seems less. I will treasure the memory even more.

Apart from his intelligence, I'll probably never forget Martin's lugubrious West Country voice; it was like something out of a Nick Park film and thus always amusing to reconcile with his many frank posts about sex and relationships. So I've built a little Aardman version of Martin in my head, and these imagined, reanimated monologues taken from old and fondly remembered posts are cheering me up right now.

So sad. I knew from LJ that his time was short and was staggered that he continued to blog his enthusiams online throughout these difficult times (and the periods of depression before that). A guy who always wanted to learn more (cf. the funk thread linked above) but was always ready to share what he knew. And yes, a welcoming soul IRL to boot.

The last conversation I had with Martin was on Saturday afternoon (having not seen him much in the last couple of years) and from what he said I felt that he was spurred on to battle and suffer for the time he did because of his infinite gratitude for the support of so many people and his own vast enthusiasm and patience for others.

A few weeks before that he schooled me for a few hours about the history and culture of Japanese comics (to name but one of the many subjects he was an expert on) and rarely have I enjoyed a lesson so much (in spite of the circumstances). Thanks for the memories Martin.

Haven't posted here for many years, but hearing the news of Martin's passing, I wanted to leave a few words. I only met Martin a few times at London FAPs, but had some great (and intense!) conversations with him. I was 'new in town' at the time and the ILX posse made me feel instantly welcome, particularly Martin. He was such a refreshingly open and honest person to chat with, no matter what the subject matter - good or bad. Martin you were a good man and you will be missed by so many. Rest In Peace.

I think Martin would have been moved and astonished by all the affection he's inspired. I never found a way of telling him -- or anyway persuading him -- what a great writer he was, but I think he did get a sense of how very loved he was, over the last few days, with visitors to his bedside, and heartfelt best wishes pouring from colleagues old and new. Which I'm very glad about. Those who were close and saw him in recent weeks had sensed there was no good way out of this for a few months, perhaps, but even so we were taken by surprise at the sheer speed of these last few days, and how suddenly and vastly bereft we feel. Sleep well, Martin.